Davis, Reid make contact, look on course to play Sunday; McDonald ruled out

As part of their post-concussion protocol, tight end Vernon Davis and safety Eric Reid went through a light-impact test Friday, and they did so by facing off against each other.

The 49ers list both players as questionable for Sunday’s game at New Orleans, and neither has suffered any setbacks since exiting with a concussion in last Sunday’s 10-9 loss to the Carolina Panthers.

Coach Jim Harbaugh said it seems both players are on track to play against the Saints, though they’ll need to stay asymptomatic until kickoff.

After practice Friday – and before the 49ers headed to the airport – Davis initially opposed rookie cornerback Darryl Morris in the contact drill before facing Reid. The players lined up a few yards apart and basically extended arms into their chests and shoulders, with no contact involving their helmets.

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“We obviously weren’t trying to kill each other,” Reid said, “but we got the point of the drill accomplished.”

Reid, who’ started every game his rookie season, said it’s the same protocol he followed after a Sept. 15 concussion at Seattle. He didn’t have any sensitivity to light after Sunday’s injury, allowing him to study film as he does on normal weeks.

Davis said of opposing Reid: “We just had to get banged around a bit. It just depends now on how we feel the next two days. … He was a pretty physical guy.”

Davis is the 49ers’ second-leading receiver and he’s caught a team-high seven touchdown receptions. Anquan Boldin accounts for the 49ers’ only other two touchdown catches.

Coincidentally, the only two players ruled out by the Saints are because of concussions, those to safety Kenny Vaccaro and tight end Benjamin Watson.

— Tight end Garrett Celek (hamstring) is doubtful. Derek Carrier could get promoted from the practice squad, and Harbaugh intimated that such a move could take place Saturday.

— Wide receiver Michael Crabtree has been busy working on his drills and conditioning but hasn’t been part of team action since last week, when he practiced for the first time since tearing his right Achilles in May.

Crabtree won’s be activated off the physically-unable-to-perform list for Sunday’s game, but Harbaugh said his comeback is going according to plan. “Controlled is the best way to say it,” Harbaugh said of Crabtree’s regimen.

— Rookie tight end Vance McDonald is “focusing on developing my own game” but has learned “great things” from studying film of tight ends, including the 49ers’ Davis and the Saints’ Jimmy Graham.

McDonald has just six receptions for 86 yards his rookie season and is still searching for his first touchdown. He had a potential 35-yard, third-quarter catch knocked from his grasp by linebacker Luke Kuechly on Sunday. McDonald said he should have adjusted his body to better shield off Kuechly. “I extended sideways instead of allowing it to drop over my shoulder,” said the second-round draft pick out of Rice.

— In the wake of Kyle Williams’ release, Jon Baldwin could see more opportunities to build on his season total of just three receptions. He had a “tremendous week” of practice, Harbaugh said.

— Harbaugh thought it was “wonderful, wonderful” that 5-year-old leukemia patient Miles Scott lived out his Make-A-Wish as “Batkid” in San Francisco. “Great for the youngster, great for the city of San Francisco and the whole region,” Harbaugh said. “Good deed in a weary world. It’s a good thing.”

Cam Inman

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When harbaugh says tremendous it means marginal or average. There’s nothing tremendous about this offense or receiving corps. I think Jim forgets this franchise has not one but two 5+ Passing TDs in a Super Bowl.